A spokeswoman for Gateshead Primary Care Trust said: "As part of our local delivery plan for 2005-8 we envisage moving towards a smoke-free Gateshead by 2008.

"We will be working to achieve this with the Local Authority, Smoke Free North East and Stop Smoking services."

A spokeswoman for South Tyneside Primary Care Trust said: "We're heavily involved with our partners, the Local Authority and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust in an initiative to have smoke-free South Tyneside by 2010."

On Tuesday, the Chronicle revealed that detailed plans to make Newcastle totally smoke-free had been published.

They include plans to ban people lighting up in sports grounds such as St James' Park by 2008.

Pressure groups campaigning against all-out bans have criticised the moves.

Director of pro-smoking group Forest, Simon Clark, said: "To us this just seems like councillors jumping on the anti-smoking bandwagon.

"We feel the hospitality industry is against it and it's a lot of tub-thumping by local politicians.

"All the evidence suggests less than a quarter of the population want a blanket ban."

Plans to go smoke-free have divided pub and club owners. Bob Senior is chief executive of Ultimate Leisure, which has the Sea nightclub and bars such as Chase and The Beach Party, in Newcastle.

He said: "I say bring in the ban and watch people get used to it. I don't think it'll affect trade at all.

"People don't go out to smoke. If it's a toss-up between boy meets girl and staying in for a fag, I know what would win.

"People have been surviving for two or three hours on flights for years now, so they can put up with a few hours in a club."

Steve Ronchetti, 42, runs two pubs in the Gateshead area, including the Bisley in Blaydon.

He said: "People are well aware of the dangers of smoking so they should be able to make their own choice.

"There are working men who finish a hard day and want to come to the pub for a drink and a smoke."